Thursday, December 1, 2005

Good Morning!

Don't forget paint ball this Saturday vs. the youth. Meet at 8:30A at church.

Today's Overview: Chapter 10 -- The Spell Begins to Break

The Beavers and the children are making the long walk to the Stone Table, keeping to paths that the White Witch can't reach. At night, they go into a large hidden hole in the ground, a kind of beaver tornado shelter, and sleep through the night. In the morning, they hear a sledge, which at first they think is the White Witch's, but it turns out to be the sledge of Father Christmas, who has finally been able to enter Narnia again as the Witch's power begins to wane. He gives a breakfast feast to all and gifts to the kids, but they are tools, not toys, for the work and battles that they have ahead.

Elsewhere, Maugrim the wolf and his assistant reach the Beaver's house but find it empty, so they head to the Stone Table as well. The White Witch encounters another group of animals who have meet up with Father Christmas, who has provided the group with a breakfast feast. When they tell the Witch about who provided the feast, she is so upset she turns them all to stone. Edmund begins to realize what a terrible mistake he has made by siding with the Witch.

As noted in the study, one of the clues that C.S. Lewis provided in the story as to Aslan's identity is the Father Christmas appearance -- who in the world arrived at the same time as Father Christmas?

The thrust of the study today focuses on the gifts that Father Christmas gives the children as tools they will need for their future challenges. Peter gets a sword and shield, Susan gets a bow and arrows and a hunting horn, and Lucy gets a dagger and vial of magic potion that heal any injury. The gifts are very evocative of the spiritual gifts referred to in the scriptures that we receive as tools for us to fight off evil. While they are referred to as gifts in scripture, I think that the idea of them being tools is more instructive -- they are given to us for our use, to do the work of God.

Today's Scriptures

Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Hebrews 4:12

Today's prayer request: Catherine Waters, my sister-in-law.

Catherine had major abdominal surgery yesterday, and she is going to be off her feet for while, during the holiday season. We need to pray for her recovery from the surgery, and for the surgery to cure the health problems she has been having now for the last year or so.

Today's class member prayer:

Chris Wesson

Have a great day.

Jay